The Public-Private Partnership Commission of the Government of Malawi has launched the tender for the development of the 350 MW Mpatamanga Hydropower Project. 

The government has opened the Strategic Sponsor Request for Proposal (RFP), which includes an initial qualification phase, for the development, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) investment scheme. A certification letter and relevant fee are required to gain access to the RFP via an electronic data room. The recordings of two webinars held on 31st January and 4th February 2020 can be accessed on the Project website. 

In April 2020, the Government will host a site visit preceded by a pre-bid conference in Blantyre, where bidders will be accorded the opportunity to ask questions to the Government and its advisors.

The initial RFP pre-qualification stage will be approximately one month long with qualifying bidders approved to submit Strategic Sponsor proposals. In addition, one or more engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors will be selected under a subsequent and separate tender process, which will follow the World Bank procurement regulations. Any proposal from a company that includes the name of a contractor for any downstream work will be unacceptable. Companies that participate in the winning Strategic Sponsor’s proposal or any of their affiliates, associates or subsidiaries, or any firms controlled directly or indirectly by such companies shall not be permitted to participate as a bidder in the tender process for the role of EPC contractor.

The government has partnered with International Finance Corporation (IFC) as a co-developer in the early-stage development activities for the Project.